Blessed Are Those Who Suffer for Righteousness
(1 Peter 3:13-17)

What do you do when you suffer for righteousness?

1. Remember that you are blessed! (1 Peter 3:14; Matthew 5:10)

2. Do not fear! (1 Peter 3:14; Isaiah 8:12-13)

3. Place Christ above all! (1 Peter 3:15; Isaiah 8:13)

4. Speak the truth in love! (1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-25)

5. Keep a good conscience! (1 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:9)

Loving Life & Seeing Good Days in 2020
(1 Peter 3:8-12)

I. Glorifying God through our walk (1 Peter 3:11; Psalm 34)

A. Turn away from evil and do good. (1 Peter 3:11; Romans 12:18; 14:19; Matthew 5:23,24)

1. Harmonious (1 Peter 3:8; John 13:34-35)

2. Sympathetic (1 Peter 3:8; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 12:15)

3. Brotherly (1 Peter 3:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14)

4. Kindhearted (1 Peter 3:8; Ephesians 4:32)
“be tenderhearted” (1 Peter 3:8)

5. Humble in spirit (1 Peter 3:8; Philippians 2:3; Matthew 11:29)
“be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8)

II. Glorifying God through our talk (1 Peter 3:10)

1. Do not repay evil with evil. (1 Peter 3:9; Luke 6:28)

2. Keep from speaking deceit. (1 Peter 3:10; Proverbs 24:26)

3. Return evil with blessing. (1 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 4:15, 29; Romans 14:19)

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
(1 Peter 2:18-25)

I. At the Cross, those who turn to Jesus are saved from the penalty of sin. (1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:12)

II. At the Cross, those who turn to Jesus are saved from the power of sin. (1 Peter 2:24)

A. The power of sin caused us to continuously stray like sheep. (1 Peter 2:25; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 18:12)
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B. Defeating the power of sin requires death and new life. (1 Peter 2:24; Colossians 3:1-4; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6-8)

C. Defeating the power of sin is possible through the care of our Good Shepherd. (Psalm 23; John 10:11-18; 1 Peter 2:25)

III. To be saved from the penalty and power of sin, we must turn to Christ. (1 Peter 2:25)

God’s Surprising Sign
(Luke 2:10-12)

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12, NKJV)

I. His Identity—”You will find a Babe” (John 1:14)

II. His Purpose—”Wrapped in swaddling cloths” (John 1:29)

III. His Humility—”Lying in a manger” (Philippians 2:7)

Pilgrim’s Progress
(1 Peter 2:11-12)

I. The Pilgrim’s Mindset (1 Peter 1:1; John 17:13-16)
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims” 1 Peter 2:11

II. The Pilgrim’s War (1 Peter 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 John 2:15-17)
“abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11)

III. The Pilgrim’s Lifestyle (Matthew 5:16)
“having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles” (1 Peter 2:12)

IV. The Pilgrim’s Future (Philippians 2:9-11)
“they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12)

Building Together on Christ Alone, Chief Cornerstone
(1 Peter 2:4-10)

I. We must keep God first. (Matthew 22:37, 38; Revelation 2:1-7)

A. Continually come to Christ and build upon Him. (1 Peter 2:4; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 7:24; 2 Peter 1:3)

B. Offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus. (1 Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

II. We must be built up together as His people. (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12)

III. We must proclaim the praises of God to others. (1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 145:4; Matthew 28:19)
Application Questions

Are you coming continually to Jesus and building your life on Him? Are you offering your life as a spiritual sacrifice to Christ?

Are you seeking to be built together with His people?

Are you seeking to proclaim His praises to those in darkness, that they, too, may come to know the Savior?

“Desire the Pure Milk of the Word”
(1 Peter 2:1-3)

I. To what can we compare God’s Word?
     A. God’s Word is pure milk. (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 4:12-13)
     B. God’s Word is nourishing milk. (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18)

II. How can we be motivated to desire God’s Word?
     A. Lay aside relational sins that hinder the Word’s impact on your life. (1 Peter 2:1; Ephesians 4:15, 29)
     B. Regularly remember and continue to taste God’s amazing grace. (1 Peter 2:3; Psalm 34:8)

III. How do we desire God’s Word?
A. Read, listen, memorize, study, and taste it.

Application Questions
How can relational sins hinder desire for God’s Word?
Do you desire the pure milk of God’s Word?
Should we read the Word only when we’re motivated or even when we don’t feel like it? Why?

By Our Love
(1 Peter 1:22-25)

I. New life in Christ is marked by obedience to the truth. (1 Peter 1:2, 22; John 3:36; 1 John 5:1-2)

II. New life in Christ takes place by God through His Word. (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Hebrews 4:12)

III. New life in Christ is eternal. (1 Peter 1:24-25; Isaiah 40:6-8)

IV. New life in Christ results in new love. (1 Peter 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
“You are no lover of Christ if you do not love his children. As soon as ever the heart is given to the master of the house it is given to the children of the house. Love Christ and you will soon love all that love him.” Charles Spurgeon

Application Questions:
Think through your relationships at Heritage Village Church. In what ways is God calling you to love the people in those relationships?

Think through the primary relationships in your life. In what ways is God calling you to love the people in those relationships?

Spend some time in prayer this week, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any ways you need to change in order to love others. Is there anything of which you need to repent and seek forgiveness?

Holy Living in an Unholy World
(1 Peter 1:13-16)

I. To be holy people, we must be focused on Christ’s return.

A. Holy living begins in the mind. (1 Peter 1:13; 2 Corinthians 10:5)

B. Holy living requires spiritual alertness. (1 Peter 1:13, 5:8)

C. Holy living is motivated by grace. (1 Peter 1:13)

II. To be holy people, we must be obedient to the Father in all of life (1:14, 15b).

A. We must make a break with our past lifestyle. (1 Peter 1:14)

B. We must establish a habit of obedience. (1 Peter 1:14)

III. To be holy people, we must be growing in our personal knowledge of God’s holiness. (1 Peter 1:15- 16)

Quote: “Salvation is the front porch. The goal of salvation is Christlikeness.” Dr. John Oswalt

Application Question:
Is your salvation changing you?

Living Our Days in Reverent Fear of the Lord
(1 Peter 1:17-21)

I. Fear the Lord because life is fleeting. (1 Peter 1:17; Psalm 90:12; James 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24)

II. Fear the Lord because our Father is also our Judge. (1 Peter 1:17; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 3:12-14)

III. Fear the Lord because God redeemed us at immeasurable cost.

A. Redemption indicates former bondage. (1 Peter 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

B. Redemption involves a price. (1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:22; Matthew 26:28)

C. Redemption is completely of God. (1 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 2:23)

Application Questions:
1. What is the fear of the Lord?
2. Are you living your days in reverent fear of the Lord?